[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Don't get me wrong, the 340 is far from crap to drive. It just isn't as raw as I'd like.

Isn't that the real issue for many enthusiasts. Car design and NVH improvements have made even the best setups, more detached for the driver who wants a more raw experience.

Problem is most users don't want less refinement these days. We see that even on this forum, users want more refinement in each successive generation. (Even applies to many M-car buyers).

Take steering as an example, take out the negative 'interference', if we are not careful we simply end up with something a bit sterile to the enthusiast. We may have excellent steering precision, but to an enthusiast driver, the negative stuff (how ever we dress it up), is part of steering feel and feedback.

[Salacak]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I was honestly disappointed.

Great powertrain, and it handles well enough and will put up solid numbers.

But it's just too refined and isolated. Does not come anywhere near rekindling the magic of the E90 and prior models.

I have to suspect that anybody who thinks this car is "fun" either (a) has never driven a pre-F30 BMW and/or (b) is a straight line acceleration junkie and doesn't know what steering feel or weight is.

It's off my shopping list. All BMW makes for people like me now is the M2. Everything else does not feel like it comes from the brand I so dearly loved.

It's all depends what are you comparing to, if you comparing to M2 yes you are right. Everything else (almost everything) this car is fun to drive. Technology just amazing, iDrive 7 and everything it's offer. I don't think you can go back.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

.

Please make a thread on your impressions of all the vehicles after those test drives! I drove the 340 at the M town tour....just seconds after driving the M2 Comp.

Don't get me wrong, the 340 is far from crap to drive. It just isn't as raw as I'd like.

Oh yes, I plan on making a very in depth 4-way comparison thread between the G70 3.3TT, Alfa Giulia Q4, M340i, and C43, all of course in their sportiest/highly optioned forms.

[wknddrivr]

Originally Posted by Transfer

Tires make a lot of difference when you're comparing sportiness and comfort between M2C and M340i. You can't really compare RFTs to PS4S. I wouldn't say the M340i feels like an M2C but RFTs aren't helping it.

The m340 I drove did not have run flat tires, it had the Michelin pilot sport 4s. The m2c had Michelin pilot super sport

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I have yet to drive any of those. When I'm eventually car shopping I'll probably stay away from Genesis as the brand is too new and I don't like its interior design. The Giulia will be my #1 pick if I need 4 doors.

Please make a thread on your impressions of all the vehicles after those test drives! I drove the 340 at the M town tour....just seconds after driving the M2 Comp.

Don't get me wrong, the 340 is far from crap to drive. It just isn't as raw as I'd like.

It sounds like an m2, 3, or 4 might be fest for you. If you want a practical car that offers a raw, sporty drive, the m3 was made for you. There are plenty of lightly used f80s available, or you could wait for the g80. Why set your sights on a regular 3-series if you want a raw driving experience?

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by ssquared

The m340 I drove did not have run flat tires, it had the Michelin pilot sport 4s. The m2c had Michelin pilot super sport

lol well gee whiz carry on then.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Fuller

It sounds like an m2, 3, or 4 might be fest for you. If you want a practical car that offers a raw, sporty drive, the m3 was made for you. There are plenty of lightly used f80s available, or you could wait for the g80. Why set your sights on a regular 3-series if you want a raw driving experience?

I've driven the regular F80 (not the Comp pkg) and wasn't thrilled. It was a sterile experience next to my simple little E90.

My main problem is that nowadays you have to step into the M division to get a BMW that was engineered to be a sports car first. I can't even think of a non-M BMW that has weighty steering for example.

Now the BMW we all knew and loved would deliver smiles even in a base model 328i, that too at humble speeds around town. You didn't have to break the bank or be driving extremely fast to get that "raw" experience.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Salacak

It's all depends what are you comparing to, if you comparing to M2 yes you are right. Everything else (almost everything) this car is fun to drive. Technology just amazing, iDrive 7 and everything it's offer. I don't think you can go back.

That's a fair point I suppose. I helped my folks in the buying process of a new G05 M sport and have been driving it for many days before shipping it north the other night.

I enjoyed the X5's power (I routinely floored it at lights), badass looks, Tartufo interior, extra space, and modern interior design.

I didn't drive my personal car for 10 days. The moment I got inside it hit me out old it's starting to look and feel. But with that being said, as soon as I turned the steering wheel to exit my garage I was reminded of why I love this car so much.

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I've driven the regular F80 (not the Comp pkg) and wasn't thrilled. It was a sterile experience next to my simple little E90.

My main problem is that nowadays you have to step into the M division to get a BMW that was engineered to be a sports car first. I can't even think of a non-M BMW that has weighty steering for example.

Now the BMW we all knew and loved would deliver smiles even in a base model 328i, that too at humble speeds around town. You didn't have to break the bank or be driving extremely fast to get that "raw" experience.

I hear you that bmw used to offer a sporty driving experience in the base 3er, but based on the current line up, there's no point looking at anything other than the M cars if you want something truly raw and sporty.

[Eagle Creek]

Why would you say that? "Sporty" doesn't equal to raw HP alone I think. It's the whole experience and combination of handling and hardware.

[TheObviousChild]

Originally Posted by chazbarrington

The hot/cold air mixer on the center vent is gone

My wife's new X3 is like this as well and I am not a fan. I have gotten used to it being physical since my first 2004 325i and didn't even realize how much I used it until it was gone. Sure, the feature is still there in the display controls, but you have to dig to get to it.

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by Eagle Creek

Why would you say that? "Sporty" doesn't equal to raw HP alone I think. It's the whole experience and combination of handling and hardware.

That's not my synopsis on the m340i. It was in response to a post by another member who said that the m340i isn't raw enough. I responded by suggesting that if they want a car that's sportier and more "raw" feeling, perhaps an m3 or m4 would scratch that itch.

[Eagle Creek]

Originally Posted by TheObviousChild

My wife's new X3 is like this as well and I am not a fan. I have gotten used to it being physical since my first 2004 325i and didn't even realize how much I used it until it was gone. Sure, the feature is still there in the display controls, but you have to dig to get to it.

Can you tell me where to find possibly even using a photo? TIA.

[TheObviousChild]

Originally Posted by Eagle Creek

Can you tell me where to find possibly even using a photo? TIA.

I'll try to remember to check and take a pic. It should be in the climate settings. It actually looks like an image of the analog dial that you can slide to the blue or red.

[Sight22]

Just picked my dravit grey up today coming from a 535D msport. Man this thing rides awesome and is just what I was thirsting for. I had AC schnitzer springs on the 5 but it still felt so heavy and portly. No way I could drive it like this 3. If I could have the bottom end of the 5 and the top end of the 340 then it would be perfect. The 5 had violent torque but it would fade as RPMs climbed. I feel some lag in the 3 but that can be fun too sometimes as the surge comes on. I think I just need some time to learn how to drive it and use the throttle better for the turbo. Interior quality is great and it doesn't feel compact to me at all. My wife sat in the backseat with my son and they had no complaints with me sitting at my usual relaxed position.

My only complaint is the ride height and I will be fixing that as soon as I can. Doesn't look like there is anything yet but it will trickle in soon.

[coladin]

My biggest takeaway after 10 days is this car does not beat you up as a DD. I am really enjoying that aspect coming from my C43.

Next , is how sloppy the auto stop/start is. I can only liken to the sensation of driving a manual car and almost stalling because you are in the wrong gear when you are coming to a stop. Going to try and figure it out before I disable it.

Only 500kms so far and stunned about a 2000km break-in, so hard to stay within the parameters. I think I will chop that in half, although I am a owner’s manual is the bible so to speak. But even exploring the midrange, this car is a good chunk quicker than my C43.

[EXE46]

Great to hear your comparison as a former C43 owner. Since so much propaganda is spilled around here as to the inherently superior merits of the C43 by mostly people who own neither of the two cars.

[joes_m340]

It's such an believable car. I've had all sorts of cars, this combines everything for me. Gets sideways just like my Evo did haha

[coladin]

Originally Posted by EXE46

Great to hear your comparison as a former C43 owner. Since so much propaganda is spilled around here as to the inherently superior merits of the C43 by mostly people who own neither of the two cars.

The only thing I miss from the C43 is the steering, which I find a little better, but nothing near to being a dealbreaker. I am starting to realize the cheapness of the C43 interior compared to the BMW as well. To many who have have seen my car and have been in my C43, this is their first impression.

[wtwo3]

I've had my m340i for a couple days now. I'm coming from a 2016 Q50 RS400. Having put about a 100 miles on the m340i now, a few impressions:

-I know much is said about the suspension and how it's not too stiff - I think this is in comparison to the C43, its chief competitor. Coming from a Q50 which has a soft suspension and much softer seats, to me I'm feeling bumps in the m340i that I never felt in the Q50. Basically, comfort mode in the m340i feels like sport plus mode in the Q50.

- This thing is fast, and so incredibly tempting to push it. It's taking every strand of willpower for me to not go too hard before break-in period is over. Even though my Q50 technically had more horsepower on paper, this m340i feels a lot faster.

- Aside from the comfort piece, this m340i is better than my Q50 in literally every way.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I've had my m340i for a couple days now. I'm coming from a 2016 Q50 RS400. Having put about a 100 miles on the m340i now, a few impressions:

-I know much is said about the suspension and how it's not too stiff - I think this is in comparison to the C43, its chief competitor. Coming from a Q50 which has a soft suspension and much softer seats, to me I'm feeling bumps in the m340i that I never felt in the Q50. Basically, comfort mode in the m340i feels like sport plus mode in the Q50.

- This thing is fast, and so incredibly tempting to push it. It's taking every strand of willpower for me to not go too hard before break-in period is over. Even though my Q50 technically had more horsepower on paper, this m340i feels a lot faster.

- Aside from the comfort piece, this m340i is better than my Q50 in literally every way.

M340 is faster to 60 than rs400. BMW underrates their engines.

[wtwo3]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

M340 is faster to 60 than rs400. BMW underrates their engines.

Any idea what the actual HP is? I've searched in the past with little success.